GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (RFD-TV) — A new federal review has found that nearly half of the nation’s truck driver training schools are not meeting government requirements, raising concerns about what this could mean for the future of agricultural shipping and the broader trucking workforce. Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), joined us on the Market Day Report to share his thoughts on the findings.
The federal review found “nearly 3,000 commercial driver’s license (CDL) training providers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR) for failing to equip trainees with the Trump Administration’s standards of readiness.” In addition, another 4,500 training providers were “placed on notice due to potential noncompliance.”
In his interview with RFD-TV News, Pugh reacted to the Transportation Department’s latest effort to ensure drivers are properly qualified and addressed whether he was surprised by the number of schools deemed out of compliance. He also discussed the potential impact on the industry. Pugh spoke about how these issues could affect recently qualified drivers who attended non-compliant schools and what consequences they may face moving forward.
He also shared what he would like to see happen next — outlining ideas for maintaining safety standards while supporting a strong, reliable shipping workforce.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week said an announcement would be made on Tuesday. However, that self-imposed deadline has now passed.
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